Intel i3 or i5

If you have the budget - go for an i5, especially if it isn't that much of a price difference.

I used to use an i3 for gaming and what not, although it stood up to many applications/games, it just wasn't providing that comfort zone.

I use a i5-4690k Devil's Canyon and have been for the past 4/5 years, and it's gone through a lot of crap lol and still holds up well.

That's paired with a Corsair H80i though.